NYC89FA074

Factual narrative

CESSNA 305A, N5300G, WAS BEING USED TO TOW A GLIDER (SCHWEIZER SGS-1-26C, N8612R) FROM A 3102 FT GRASS RWY. THE GLIDER PLT ESTIMATED THE TOW LINE WAS LESS THAN 150 FT IN LENGTH. HE RPRTD THE SCHWEIZER WAS VERY SENSITIVE ON TOW & THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TOWING SPEED WAS 50 TO 60 MPH, BUT THE TOW PLT PREFERRED A HIGHER TOW SPEED. ON SVRL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE GLIDER PLT HAD REQUESTED A 'CONSERVATIVE' SPEED. RPRTDLY, THEY COMPROMISED ON A SLOW TOW TO 1000' AGL, THEN A SPEED OF 80 MPH TO THE RELEASE POINT. THE GLIDER PLT STATED THE WIND WAS GUSTY, BUT THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL TO ABOUT 150' AGL, THEN THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. SLACK DEVELOPED IN THE TOW LINE & THE GLIDER PLT CORRECTED BY USING YAW. WITNESSES RPRTD THE GLIDER MOVED OUT OF PSN TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN BACK LEFT & HIGH, RAISING THE TAIL OF THE TOW PLANE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TOW PLANE ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED, THOUGH BOTH PLTS HAD RELEASED THE TOW LINE. THE GLIDER LNDD SAFELY. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12